61497    This is the year that we elect the heads of local governments and councillors in the nationwide election.

61498    Additionally, discussions over decentralization are increasing at present.

61499    During the regular Diet session scheduled to convene in the end of this month, the government is expected to table the legislative bill to promote decentralization.

61500    Considering the foregoing, on the occasion of the first year of decentralization of power from the central government to local jurisdictions, this year gives us a golden opportunity to consider the existence and direction for local governments.

61501    Since the Meiji era, the Japanese administrative system has remained centralized, and this tendency has particularly become stronger after the end of World War II.

61502    Decentralization will let each local government break away from the existing system and will take full advantage of the potential of the regional culture and economy while maintaining its identity and independence.

61503    Decentralization also means it will destroy the triangle of politicians, bureaucrats and big business that support the centralization of power.

61504    The current discussions over decentralization of power started as a direct result of the final report submitted by Special Advisory Council on Enforcement of Administrative Reform in the fall of the year before last.

61505    The Special Advisory Council pressed the government to address the issue of decentralization since "promoting decentralization and establishing local autonomy are the inescapable demands of the present day."

61506    Additionally, last fall, including the six major organizations on local governments such as the Association of Prefectural Governors and other concerned groups, the Local Government System Research Council, an advisory body to the prime minister, private-sector members of a special task force for the Decentralization Section under the governmental Administrative Reform Promotion Office compiled reports and summaries one after the other for the subsequent submission to the central government.

61507    In response to these developments, the government endorsed the policy outline concerning decentralization at the Cabinet meeting on December 25 last year.

61508    The policy outline incorporates the promotion of transferring authority from the central government to the local governments, the enhancement of the local fiscal base and other concerned matters in addition to the clear indication that the legislative bill to promote decentralization will be tabled during the regular Diet session.

61509    While the cry for the "age of local autonomy" has been around for a long time, it is not an overstatement to say that the arguments for decentralization have fizzled out in the past.

61510    From that perspective, we give credit to the policy outline this time as one step forward for decentralization.

61511    From now on, the focal point will be what decentralization bill will be prepared to be tabled at the Diet based on the policy outline.